Rifleman Aurangzeb’s sacrifice on June 14 reminds us of the cost of freedom. Here is how you can practically support the families of our fallen heroes through official channels.
It is June 14, 2018. A 24-year-old soldier with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles is off-duty, excited to celebrate Eid with his family in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. He boards a private vehicle to head home, but he never makes it. Rifleman Aurangzeb was abducted and killed by terrorists in Pulwama, a sacrifice that shook the nation. His body was found in Guso village the next day.
Yesterday marked his Balidan Diwas. You might have seen his face on your feed—a young man with a bright smile and a rifle. But beyond the digital tributes and hashtags, there is a tangible way to respect his memory. Civic action in this context isn't just about remembrance; it is about ensuring that the families of those who chose duty above life are never left to fend for themselves. Whether it is through official welfare funds or local community support, your involvement can be more than just a ‘Like’.
In India, the term "Martyr" is not technically used in the official lexicon of the Indian Armed Forces; instead, they use the term "Battle Casualty." However, the honour and benefits accorded to those who die in the line of duty are strictly codified.
1. Gallantry Awards: Rifleman Aurangzeb was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra on August 15, 2018. According to the Gallantry Awards portal maintained by the Ministry of Defence, the Shaurya Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The statutes governing these awards provide for a monthly monetary allowance to the awardee, which, in the case of a posthumous award, goes to the next of kin (NOK).
2. Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF): This is a dedicated fund managed by the Adjutant General’s Branch of the Indian Army. It was established to accept voluntary contributions from citizens to provide financial assistance to the families of soldiers who are killed or disabled during military operations.
3. Bharat Ke Veer: Launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bharat Ke Veer initiative allows you to contribute directly to the individual bank accounts of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel who laid down their lives, or to the 'Bharat Ke Veer' corpus. For the Indian Army, similar contributions are routed through the AFBCWF.
4. State Government Grants: Most state governments, including the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, have specific policies for ex-gratia payments to the families of personnel killed in action. These are not just acts of charity but are part of the state's administrative duty toward its defenders.
Honouring a hero like Rifleman Aurangzeb requires moving from emotion to execution. Here is how you can contribute effectively without falling for scams or misinformation.
Before sharing a story or donating, verify the details. Scammers often use the photos of martyrs to solicit funds into private accounts.
If you want to provide financial support, use only the official government portals.
Every district in India has a Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW). These boards are responsible for the welfare of veterans and the families of martyrs in your own backyard.
On anniversaries like June 14, misinformation often spikes. Sometimes, old videos are circulated as new incidents to incite communal tension.
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Even with the best intentions, the system can be glitchy or misleading. Here is where your efforts to help might hit a wall and how to bypass it.
1. The "Missing" Soldier Profile You search for a specific hero like Rifleman Aurangzeb on the Bharat Ke Veer portal, but they don't show up in the "Support Bravehearts" list.
2. Payment Gateway Failures Government portals are notorious for timed-out sessions. You might see a "Transaction Pending" message, or the money might be debited without a receipt being generated.
3. Fake Social Media Fundraisers You see an emotional reel with a UPI QR code claiming to support a martyr’s children.
4. Tax Certificate Delays You donated for the 80G tax benefit, but the certificate didn't arrive in your inbox.
Use this script to report suspicious "martyr funds" on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook.
"I am reporting this account/post for 'Scam/Fraud'. The user is soliciting private donations using the identity of a deceased soldier [Name], which violates the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines. Official donations for martyrs are routed only through bharatkeveer.gov.in or the AFBCWF. This private UPI ID [UPI ID] is unauthorized and potentially fraudulent."
If you are helping a martyr's family in your district who hasn't received promised state benefits, use this RTI draft. Address it to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Zila Sainik Welfare Office or the Home Department of your state.
Subject: Request for Information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act 2005 regarding Ex-Gratia for [Martyr Name].
If you want to verify a claim before organizing a local college fundraiser, email the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI).
To: [email protected] Subject: Verification of Battle Casualty status – [Name of Personnel]
"Respected Sir/Ma'am, I am a student at [College Name]. We wish to organize a memorial/contribution drive for the family of [Rank, Name, Unit], who reportedly lost his life in [Location/Operation] on [Date]. To ensure the authenticity of our drive, could you please confirm if the individual is officially listed as a 'Battle Casualty'? We intend to route all funds through the AFBCWF."
1. Is Bharat Ke Veer only for the Indian Army? No. Bharat Ke Veer is specifically for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), which includes the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NDRF, NSG, and SSB. For the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, you should contribute to the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF) or the National Defence Fund (NDF).
2. How much of my money actually reaches the family? If you contribute to an individual soldier's account on the Bharat Ke Veer portal, 100% of the amount goes to the Next of Kin (NOK) bank account. There are no administrative deductions. If you contribute to the "Corpus Fund," the money is distributed by a committee to the families of martyrs based on need.
3. What is the maximum I can donate to one soldier? The portal caps individual contributions at ₹15 lakh. If you try to donate to someone who has already reached this limit, the system will redirect you to donate to the general Corpus Fund. This ensures that a few viral stories don't get all the funding while others are ignored.
4. Can I get a tax deduction for these donations? Yes. Contributions to Bharat Ke Veer and the AFBCWF are eligible for tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Ensure you enter your PAN correctly during the donation process to generate a valid receipt for your tax filings.
5. I am a student and can only give ₹100. Is that okay? Absolutely. There is no minimum limit for honouring a hero. Whether it is ₹10 or ₹10,000, the contribution is recorded. More than the money, using the official portal helps the government track the level of public support for our forces.
6. How do I find out who the "Next of Kin" (NOK) is? For security and privacy reasons, the government does not publicize the home addresses or personal phone numbers of the NOK. The Bharat Ke Veer portal acts as the intermediary. You don't need the family’s details; the portal ensures the money reaches the verified legal heir (usually the spouse or parents) as per service records.
7. Can I volunteer to help the family of a martyr locally? Yes. Every district in India has a Zila Sainik Welfare Office (ZSWO). You can visit them to find out if there are families of martyrs in your area who need help with paperwork, digital literacy, or children’s education. This is often more valuable than a one-time donation.
No. Bharat Ke Veer is specifically for the **Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)**, which includes the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NDRF, NSG, and SSB. For the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, you should contribute to the **Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF)** or the **National Defence Fund (NDF)**.
If you contribute to an individual soldier's account on the Bharat Ke Veer portal, **100%** of the amount goes to the Next of Kin (NOK) bank account. There are no administrative deductions. If you contribute to the "Corpus Fund," the money is distributed by a committee to the families of martyrs based on need.
The portal caps individual contributions at **₹15 lakh**. If you try to donate to someone who has already reached this limit, the system will redirect you to donate to the general Corpus Fund. This ensures that a few viral stories don't get all the funding while others are ignored.
Yes. Contributions to Bharat Ke Veer and the AFBCWF are eligible for tax exemption under **Section 80G** of the Income Tax Act. Ensure you enter your PAN correctly during the donation process to generate a valid receipt for your tax filings.
Absolutely. There is no minimum limit for honouring a hero. Whether it is ₹10 or ₹10,000, the contribution is recorded. More than the money, using the official portal helps the government track the level of public support for our forces.
For security and privacy reasons, the government does not publicize the home addresses or personal phone numbers of the NOK. The Bharat Ke Veer portal acts as the intermediary. You don't need the family’s details; the portal ensures the money reaches the verified legal heir (usually the spouse or parents) as per service records.
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